Suffolk County (LST 1173) - Naval Cruise Book

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STAFF First row: LT R. L. Slawson, USN, CAPT J. M. MacKenzie, USMC, CDR E. W. Myers, USN, CAPT R. D. Shepard, USN, RADM A. L. Reed, USN, CDR J. S. Spielman, USN, LCDR T. J. Elliott, USN, LT P. H. Edmunds, USN, LTJG D. R. Lindskog, USNR. Second row: I-Iawbaker, B, RMZ, Marques, O, JO1, Lines, C, RMI, Cathey, G,YNl Newbern, T, YNl, Schlatter, E, YNCS, Yarbrough, P, RMCM, Abille, R,SDC, Bennett, B, PI-Il, Howe, L, QM1, Elliott, C, BM1, McCall, J, RMZ. Third row: Symons, R, SN, Driver, S, SN, Sullivan, W, RM3, Sproule, J, EN3, Genteel, S, RM2, Pickney, G, YN2, Switaj, D, PHZ, Johnson, R, YN3, ' Wagemaker, E, RM3, Valdez, J, TN, Huerta, o, TN --.V A.. Q. -LA L. C .- ...Y .r...-, .,..,.v,..-.,, .

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: - ' E 3 ,E Efx 4' ' Mgt' 5 ' gi 'E pg ZF' ,- p nm 2 S-sw f -- Z J' .1 -'-'s' 4 , W a 5 Ilfi 5 I , I lu' K- ? :Q Z 9 5 f- l' 5 ,gz-..---AZ , I 7.-1 ' -fn .. .25-S ssxihx - f F Am , p, REAR ADMIR-Al' ALLEN L. mn U. S. N. Allen Lorentz Reed was born May ZlNl908 in Manila, P. 1., S011 Of William Allen Reed, who was then Governor of the Province of Lopante Bontoe, and Mrs. Grace Peterson Reed. He was appointed to the U. S. NavalAca.demy in 1927, and was COIFI' missioned Ensign 4 June, 1931. He was advanced to Rear Admiral Wlth date of rank 1 July, 1958. He served for six months inthe Battleship USS Cklahoma after grad' uation from the Naval Academy. In addition, he served in USS Parrott, USS Tennessee and USS Milwaukee. He was Executive Officer of the USS Helm when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The Helm was the only ship ofthe Fleet which was fully naanned and underway when the Japanese attacked. i He has commanded the USS John llood, USS Botetourt and USS Saint Paul. In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with the conabat 'V'31'1d the Cornnnendation Ribbon, Rear Admirzli l Reed has the American D6fe1'i5'e Medal, Fleet Clasp, The Amemcan. Campaign Medal, Asiatic Paclflc Carnpaign Medal with three stars, World ll Victory Medal? Navy Occupation Service Medal and the National Defense Medal. 'W 1 . 5 6 an-ul? 1 I i P .. 5 fl

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CRUISE NARRATIVE . Supplies for the pro'ected - t th and a half before the scheduled departure D J . . Preparatlorts beii? 3233 einrblsfdked along with extra ammunitions, special evacuation gear and a variety SEX Tflltths Siisiggd Stu-ffS The Force was then ready to carry out its good will mission, lend support to m . ?1-iigldsl-g?nd allies, and render assistance in whatever form needed. . Ld, loudy day as the USS Donner QLSD-2.01 and the USS Suffolk County LST1rlclillgS ld,t?16nIZ1teiQ1taifrf:,c?ri1aLi:tCtle Ci'eek, Virginia. The USS Mattabesset QAOG-521 left Norfolk a day later- The ESS Forrest Sherman lDD-9311 and the USS Meredith CDD-8907 got underway from Newport' R' I' and Mayport, Fla. , respectively. At Morehead City N C the Donner and Suffolk County loaded the participants in the Solant Amity visit you - F Company, of.the, 6th Marine Battalion, Znd. Marine Division. Later, 5 LVTP-5's were put iboagd off Onslow Beach. The Force was now ready, lacking only the titular Commander-in-Chief. We proceeded directly to Trinidad, Rear Admiral Allan Reed embarking aboard the Donner 23 Sept. The Mattabesset, Forrest Sherman and Meredith made a short stop at Tobago, P1'OCe6di1'1g West to Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Here they visited a local orphanage, the Royal Police Academy and a banana planta- tion. The Donner andSuffolk County set forth for the Cape of Good Hope, crossed the Equator 29 September, observing traditional ceremonies, and entered the South African Naval Base, Simonstown 12 October. All hands were in dress blues for entering the harbor. The Flagship, Donner, fired a 21 gun National Salute, and a 19 gun salute to Rear Admiral Bierman, Chief of Staff of the South African Navy. They, in turn, returned gun salutes to our ships and Rear Admiral Allan Reed. A rifle I'1'1atCh WHS held between our marines and the South African Navy. The Forrest Sherman, Meredith and Mattabesset proceeded to Pointe Noire and Port Gentile, French Equatorial Africa, after leaving Abidjan, then proceeded south to Capetown. They participated in anti- submarine exercises. The Donner and Suffolk County got underway for Port Elizabeth, docking 16 October. This is a bustling industrial city that was happy to see us. We received over 11, 000 visitors and held many receptions. The ships entertained children from a local orphanage, and in return accepted invitations to various hospitals and institutions. Leaving Port Elizabeth,ZO October, we entered Capetown after four days of rough seas. The men had opportunities to see the town and countryside, especially the many views of magnificent Table Top Mountain. Ships visiting was limited to invitation only, and official functions were held to a minimum. Capetown wel- d ll h' ' come a s ip s crews with the same courtesy and hospitality shown by Port Elizabeth and Simonstown. It was with reluctance we departed Z8 October. Avoiding Japanese fishing nets, and investigating unidentified radar contacts, the ships stopped briefly at Mullet Bank. Th D - ' ' th t 1 e onner and Suffolk County got underway for Freetown, Sierra Leone, again crossing e e a C111 01' OH 0 NOVember. All hands became Golden Shellbacks. The Marine Corps birthday was cele- brated 9 November at sea. All visits at Freetown were brief but pleasant. The Donner and Suffolk County proceeded 16 No b ' ' - - ' ' of th t 1 vem er to.C.onakry, capital city of Guinea. A Solant Fair and reception were the highl-1ghtS el visit. The two amphibious ships proceeded 19 November to Baffu Bay, a small mission settlement on the Liberian coast After fo ' Liberian preside .t T b 'ur interesting days of sightseeing, we proceeded to Harper for participation in Th h. nt u man s birthday celebration. Marines paraded with the Liberian Frontier Forces. e tVf'0 S 1PS ICOHUH'-led 011 to M0H1'0V1a, Capitalcity of Liberia, 1 and Z December, having many memorable occasions to distribute their gifts. The entire Task Force rendezvous d ff , U e o Monrovia 3 D b 'th 1 h D t r Group- Final destination for all is home. ecem er W1 a Sa ute from t e es roye W ld tk . ashorg-WC-Z-Isley geerffriled a , . men, in the exemplary conduct displayed while foreign ports visited the trserwiebto the Umted States Navi' and to the Nation, by Showing the Pe0P1e Of the and their behavior beyond relperggcieer of the American Sailor and marine' Their appearance was Outstanding are our Pride With the families of our to the folks at home